City Roulette ep 2 Part 2 : This doesn't feel like the Holiday's *Motive*

~LATOYA CAFE BEFORE BEAR CRASH~ The café is dimly lit — Christmas lights blink lazily along the counter, and the smell of spilled coffee hangs in the air. Chairs are overturned, tables shoved against the glass doors. The sound of someone hammering nails echoes off the walls. Paulie Mae tightens a strap across the front door using a belt she ripped from one of the booths. Paulie Louis drags a table toward the window beside her, boots squeaking on the tile. Paulie Louis (grunting): “Push it harder, it’s still loose!” Paulie Mae (snapping): “You push harder — you’ve got the muscles!” Paulie Louis: “Says the pottery maker with the death grip!” Johnathon Coffee, sleeves rolled up and hair messy, slides another chair against the door and leans on it. He sighs deeply, muttering under his breath. Johnathon: “I miss the smell of espresso, not the smell of fear.” Jessie Kowalski is near the front counter, shuffling tarot cards nervously — not for reading, just for comfort. Jessie (quietly): “The cards said chaos today. I just didn’t think they meant literal zoo escape.” Mariah City (from across the room): “Girl, your cards didn’t predict they’d kidnap us, either!” Mariah stomps by, tying her hair up and pacing like she’s ready to fight. She glares out the window, arms crossed. Mariah: “You see this? Christmas lights, snow, and literal wild animals. This ain’t Hallmark — this is The Purge: Rudolph Edition!” Kayegama Yoshe, crouched near the booth, checks the corner for weak spots. His white and blue tights shimmer faintly under the flickering lights as he runs his hand along the floor molding. Kayegama: “This side’s solid. If they come through here, we’ll hear it first.” Riko Hoyomisha straightens beside him, fencing stance naturally sharp even without a blade. Riko: “Good. That means we’ll have time to react — or escape.” Johnathon (glancing up): “Escape? You mean back out into that?” He nods toward the window. Through the glass, faint red flashes pulse in the distance — animals moving through the snow. Jessie (softly): “There’s nowhere safe. The mayor made sure of that.” Mariah: “If that fluffy psycho comes on the speaker again, I swear I’ll throw this coffee pot through it.” Johnathon: “Not my coffee pot!” Mariah (snapping): “Then brew me something to calm down!” Paulie Louis rolls her eyes but can’t hide a smirk. Paulie Louis: “Mariah, if you’re still yelling, you’re fine.” Mariah: “Yelling’s my coping mechanism!” Kayegama (quiet, scanning): “Focus. The animals are getting closer.” Everyone stops. Outside, through the snow, faint movement passes under the streetlamp. A shadow — maybe foxes, maybe something bigger. The tension tightens like a drawn string. Jessie (whispering): “There’s something wrong with the lights…” The café’s neon sign outside flickers — “LAT✶YA’S CAF✶” — before going completely dark. Inside, only the Christmas tree lights remain, blinking red and green in eerie rhythm. Riko (calm, steady): “We stay quiet. They hunt by sound.” Johnathon (whisper): “You sure about that?” Riko: “No.” The wind outside howls, rattling the front door. Everyone freezes. A scraping noise follows — claws on glass. Mariah (low, terrified whisper): “Tell me that’s not what I think it is.” Paulie Mae: “Everyone—back from the window. Now.” They all shuffle backward, holding their breath. The glass trembles again — another scratch, heavier this time. Johnathon (muttering): “Oh no, oh no, oh no…” Paulie Louis: “Shut up and hold the table!” Suddenly, the door jerks. The wood creaks. A deep thump echoes through the café — like something testing the barrier. The group flinches. Another thump. The tree in the corner topples, ornaments rolling across the floor. Kayegama: “It’s strong. Too strong.” Riko: “Then we hold until it gives.” He takes a stance beside the door, ready to strike the moment it breaks. Mariah (whispering, voice trembling between fury and fear): “If I die here, tell Harold I’m haunting his stupid tail.” The camera pans slowly across the group — each one frozen in the dim glow, breaths visible in the cold air. The only sounds are the wind and the slow, deliberate creaking of the glass. A shadow looms across the door — massive, hulking, breathing. Then everything goes silent. A faint snowflake drifts through a crack in the window. Johnathon (barely audible): “…Did it leave?” CRASH! The bear explodes through the window, showering the café in glass and neon shards. Screams erupt — overlapping, chaotic, wordless — as the screen floods with movement and color. The camera shakes violently, snow and glass swirling together under the café’s flickering lights. ~LATOYAS CAFE PRESENT~ CRASH! The bear bursts through the front window, sending shards of glass and fake snow flying across the café floor. Tables flip, chairs topple, the Christmas tree collapses with a clang of ornaments. Mariah City: “OH HELL NOOOO!” The group scatters — chaos everywhere. Jessie Kowalski, hands trembling, grabs the nearest object — a coffee pot. Jessie (panicked): “BACK! BACK, DEMON BEAST!” She hurls it straight at the bear’s head. SMASH! Hot coffee splatters across the bear’s fur. The animal roars — louder, angrier, echoing through every inch of the café. Johnathon Coffee (screaming): “NOT THE POT! THAT WAS LIMITED EDITION!!” He falls to his knees in theatrical despair as the bear locks eyes with them, steam rising from its fur. Mariah (running in circles): “WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME?! I’M TOO FABULOUS TO DIE LIKE THIS!” Paulie Louis (yelling): “Mariah, move your ass!” The bear growls, knocking over the counter with one massive swipe. Coffee beans scatter like marbles across the floor. Jessie slips, catching herself on a chair. The bear rears up, towering over her. Jessie (shrill): “OH GOD SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!” Paulie Louis charges forward, broom in hand, face set in full warrior mode. With a ferocious yell, she swings — SMACK! — right across the bear’s snout. The bear grunts, stumbling sideways, fur dusting with glitter and fake snow. Johnathon (still panicking): “THAT’S MY FAVORITE BROOM—!” Paulie Louis: “It’s your broom or your life!” The bear snarls, regaining balance — but before it can lunge again— Riko Hoyomisha and Kayegama Yoshe burst forward like a tag-team wrestling duo. Kayegama: “Riko, left side!” Riko: “Got it!” Kayegama slides under the bear’s legs as Riko grabs a metal chair, leaping off the counter. Together, they slam the chair down on the bear’s back in perfect sync. CLANG! The bear roars in fury, spinning around as if confused by the absurdity of it all. Mariah: “WHAT IS THIS — THE CHRISTMAS ROYAL RUMBLE?!” Jessie (pointing frantically): “Gift shop! Everyone to the gift shop, NOW!” The group bolts — tripping, shouting, slipping on spilled whipped cream. Johnathon clutches a box of coffee filters like it’s holy scripture. The bear lunges again, its massive paw slamming the floor inches from Paulie Mae, who yelps and dives over the counter. Paulie Mae (shouting): “GO, GO, GO!” The group rushes toward the door connecting the café to Clarence’s Gift Shop, shoving it open. Snowflakes drift in through the broken windows behind them as the neon sign flickers ominously. Jessie: “MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!” Kayegama: “I AM MOVING!” Johnathon (still yelling): “WHOEVER CLEANED THAT POT, I’M HAUNTING YOU!” They pile into the gift shop one after another — Paulie Mae, Paulie Louis, Riko, Kayegama, Jessie, Johnathon, and finally Mariah, still shrieking at the top of her lungs. Mariah (gasping): “I SWEAR IF THAT BEAR FOLLOWS US, I’M SWITCHING SPECIES!” Jessie slams the door shut behind them, twisting the lock, and everyone collapses in exhaustion against the counter full of snow globes and stuffed animals. For a second, silence — only their ragged breathing and the faint jingling of a Christmas bell overhead. Then— THUMP. The door shudders as the bear slams against it from the other side. Paulie Louis: “That’s not holding for long.” Kayegama (panting): “We’ll hold as long as we have to.” Mariah (still catching her breath): “Somebody remind me why I didn’t just become a librarian.” Johnathon (wheezing): “Because you can’t scream quietly.” They all shoot him a look. Johnathon (raising hands): “Too soon? Yeah, too soon.” The bear hits the door again — wood creaking, ornaments falling off the shelves. Jessie: “Okay, team meeting later. Survive first!” The group pushes a display rack of teddy bears and wrapping paper against the door, the jingling of bells punctuating their frantic effort. Mariah: “I hate this city. I hate this holiday. And I really hate bears.” Riko (smirking faintly): “At least we know who’s on the naughty list.” The camera pans slowly upward, showing the chaos they left behind in the café — broken glass glittering like snow, steam rising from spilled coffee, and the massive bear pacing in front of the door, growling. Outside, the neon city glows bright and cold — and the wind carries the faint echo of Harold’s laughter from somewhere unseen. ~CLARENCE GIFT SHOP~ THUMP. THUMP. The door shakes one last time — then silence. The group freezes. No one breathes. After a long pause, the faint sound of claws scraping pavement fades into the snow outside. Jessie Kowalski presses her ear to the door, eyes wide. Jessie (whisper): “…I think it’s gone.” Johnathon Coffee drops to the floor dramatically. Johnathon: “Oh, thank the beans.” Paulie Mae: “Don’t say beans right now.” Johnathon: “Sorry. Coping mechanism.” Mariah City collapses into a pile of stuffed reindeer, gasping for breath. Mariah: “I am done with cardio for life. Someone find me a venti peppermint mocha and a therapist.” Riko Hoyomisha, still holding a bent metal chair like a sword, glances around the dim shop. Riko: “Stay alert. It could circle back.” Paulie Louis (panting): “If it circles back, it can have the damn store.” The group collectively exhales, adrenaline draining out of their bodies. The gift shop glows faintly with broken neon; fake snow drifts in from the café’s smashed window. Jessie: “Okay, let’s just take a moment to—” She stops mid-sentence. Her eyes narrow toward the back of the shop. Movement. A shadow shifts behind a shelf of snow globes. A soft click — the sound of something metallic. Jessie (tense): “Wait… someone’s here.” Everyone stiffens. Kayegama: “Where?” Jessie (pointing): “Behind the plush display.” Mariah (groaning): “Oh hell no, not round two.” Paulie Louis steps forward cautiously, broom still in hand like a spear. She pokes at the shelf. A voice snaps out sharply: ???: “HEY—WATCH WHERE YOU SWING THAT!” Half the group jumps. From behind the shelf steps Neely Pearl, fully intact, glitter catching the flickering lights. Neely (snapping): “You almost clocked me, darling! This outfit cost more than your fear response.” Mariah (blinking): “Neely?! What the—since when were you—?!” Neely (hands on hips): “Since I hid here like a rational person instead of fighting a bear with décor.” Johnathon: “You were hiding?! You could’ve helped!” Neely: “And do what, honey? Bedazzle it into submission?” The sarcasm cuts through the tension. The others start to realize — Neely’s not alone. From behind another aisle emerge Nicholas Sour clutching a half-eaten candy cane, Myrtle Chang with a snow globe held like a weapon, Jackie Yamata brushing glass dust off his outfit, Seth Norway looking grim and calculating, Arthur Present standing protectively near the others, Paris Ross holding an armful of cat-themed sweaters, and Austin Sobriquet straightening his glasses calmly as if this was all just mildly inconvenient. Mariah: “Oh, so this is where the sequel cast’s been hiding.” Nicholas (muffled through candy): “We were here first.” Paulie Mae: “How long have you all been in here?” Austin: “Since the first alarm. The animals came out fast — this shop was the nearest shelter.” Seth (low): “We heard the glass break. That bear sounded close enough to breathe on us.” Jackie (dryly): “Yeah, well, it did more than breathe. It gave us trauma.” Myrtle: “You’re telling me. I almost fainted when that raccoon crawled up the window.” Paris (clutching a hoodie): “At least you didn’t see the dog collars blinking red. I’m keeping this hoodie. Emotional support.” Mariah throws her hands in the air. Mariah: “So while we were out there fighting for our lives, you guys were in here having a pajama party?” Neely: “It’s called self-preservation. Try it sometime.” Jessie: “You all seriously didn’t hear us fighting a bear ten feet away?!” Nicholas: “We heard it. We just didn’t want to join the sequel to Jaws.” Riko Hoyomisha exhales, tension slipping into reluctant amusement. Riko: “Well, we’re all alive. That’s what matters.” Arthur Present: “Barely.” A beat passes — the weight of what just happened settling in. Everyone’s faces shift from relief to quiet realization: the city is chaos, and they’re now split between survival and distrust. Austin (adjusting his glasses): “There are too many of us in one building. If the mayor releases another wave, this place becomes a death trap.” Paulie Louis: “And going outside is safer?” Austin (shrugs): “Statistically, no. But at least there’s more room to run.” Mariah: “Great. More cardio.” Neely: “Honey, I’ve seen you in heels. You’ll survive.” The tension cracks into a few nervous laughs — the kind born of shared exhaustion. The camera pans up the shelves: toppled plush toys, snow globes reflecting faint, distorted faces, a flickering “Merry Christmas!” sign overhead. The group settles on the floor amid the broken merchandise, catching their breath as the faint sound of distant animal roars echoes outside the building. Jessie (quietly): “So what now?” Riko: “Now… we wait. And pray that was the last thing he’s planning.” The sound of heavy breathing fills the quiet store. Glitter and snowflakes drift through the cracked ceiling. The neon outside flickers — blue, then pink, then off completely. Mariah City, arms crossed and glaring, breaks the silence. Mariah: “Okay, no offense, but I can’t be stuck in one building with twenty people breathing the same air. I need space.” Jessie Kowalski looks up from where she’s sitting by a toppled shelf. Jessie: “Mariah, you go outside, you’ll meet a bear again.” Mariah: “And? At least the bear has boundaries.” Austin Sobriquet, calm as ever, adjusts his glasses and walks toward the connecting door to Latoya’s Café. Austin: “If you really want to leave, let’s check first. We can’t assume it’s safe.” He reaches for the handle — twisted metal, glass fragments still around it — and pulls gently. CLICK. Nothing. He frowns and gives it another tug. Still nothing. Austin: “Hm.” Mariah (tapping foot): “Hm, what? That sounded like a bad ‘hm.’” Austin: “It’s not locked. There’s… no mechanism.” He crouches down, inspecting the frame. “It’s been blocked. Likely barricaded — from the other side.” Jessie: “So, wait, someone sealed us in?” Austin (straightening): “That’s one way to put it.” Mariah groans dramatically, throwing her head back. Mariah: “Of course. Trapped in the city’s tackiest mall kiosk. Merry freaking Christmas to me!” Neely Pearl flips their hair, strolling over to the main gift shop door near the front. Neely: “Alright, boys, girls, and glam divinities — let Auntie Neely handle this one.” They grab the handle with a dramatic flourish and pull — nothing. Neely: “Okay, she’s being shy. Let’s try again.” They yank harder. Still nothing. Jessie: “Let me help.” She joins in, both of them tugging with all their might. The handle doesn’t budge. Neely (pouting): “She’s not shy — she’s petty.” Jessie (panting): “Blocked from the outside too?” Austin (nodding): “Seems likely. We’re sealed in from both ends.” The group collectively groans. Nicholas Sour, sitting on the counter with his candy bag clutched like a lifeline, looks panicked. Nicholas: “No, no, no, no — I don’t have enough candy for this kind of situation! If we’re trapped, I’m rationing!” He clutches the bag tighter, glaring at everyone. Mariah: “Excuse me? Rationing candy? You better start sharing before I turn this into a mugging.” Nicholas (defensive): “I have anxiety candy! It’s medicinal!” Mariah (snapping): “So is caffeine, and I don’t see a Starbucks!” The two glare at each other, voices rising. Nicholas: “You’re just mad because you lost your phone!” Mariah: “And you’re mad because you can’t live without sugar! We all have trauma, Willy Wonka!” Paulie Louis: “Okay, that’s enough—” Mariah: “No! He called me mad!” Nicholas: “Because you are!” Mariah (furious): “SAY THAT AGAIN, CANDY BOY!” Arthur Present, calm and collected despite the chaos, steps between them with a firm but gentle hand. Arthur Present: “Enough, both of you. Fighting won’t open the doors.” He glances at Nicholas, his voice softening. “Hey. Deep breath. You’ll be fine.” Nicholas blinks, shoulders relaxing slightly. Nicholas: “…Thanks.” Neely smirks from across the room. Neely: “Aww, look at that — chivalry’s not dead. Arthur’s got a crush on our little candy prince.” Arthur Present (deadpan): “Neely.” Neely (teasing): “What? It’s cute! Big knight energy meets snack-sized sugar rush.” Nicholas (blushing): “I—WHAT?! I don’t—!?” Mariah (snorting): “Oh, now this I like. Continue.” Paulie Mae: “Can we not start a romantic subplot while we’re trapped?” Neely (grinning): “We’re multitaskers.” The argument fizzles into nervous laughter. But tension still lingers. Jackie Yamata leans against a display shelf, watching the others with narrowed eyes. Jackie: “Hold up. If the doors are blocked from the outside, that means someone was out there after we came in.” Myrtle Chang (nodding): “Yeah. Someone must’ve locked us in on purpose.” The room falls silent. The realization hits everyone at once. Seth Norway (quietly): “You think the mayor did it?” Austin: “He could have… but the precision of it? I’m not convinced.” Riko Hoyomisha: “So you’re saying someone here might’ve slipped out and sealed us in?” Paulie Louis (frowning): “That doesn’t make sense. We’ve all been together.” Seth: “Physically, yes. But not everyone’s been accounted for every second.” The air thickens. Eyes start darting around — suspicion blooming like wildfire. Mariah (folding her arms): “Perfect. We survived a bear just to play Clue: Christmas Edition.” Jessie (tired): “At least it’s not Monopoly.” The group exchanges uncertain glances as the camera slowly pans toward the blocked café door — faint scratches visible on the outside, something metallic wedged into the frame. A low hum of wind outside. The Christmas lights flicker back to life for a brief moment — red and green shadows dancing across everyone’s faces. Austin (quietly): “We’re not alone in this city.” The neon lights outside flicker faintly through the cracks under the door, casting streaks of pink and blue across the ruined floor. Snow globes glimmer in silence. The smell of coffee, fur, and ozone lingers from the chaos. Mariah City, arms crossed, glares at Austin. Mariah: “I’m telling you, this has mayor energy written all over it. He’s probably sitting in some fancy chair watching us freak out.” Austin Sobriquet: “Possible. But look at the precision—both doors blocked perfectly, from opposite ends. He couldn’t have done that remotely.” Jessie Kowalski: “So you’re saying someone’s been out there? While we’ve been in here losing our minds?” Neely Pearl (dramatically): “A third party… how scandalous. We love a plot twist.” Riko Hoyomisha, still tense, folds his arms. Riko: “Let’s not jump to conspiracies. For all we know, the mayor has someone helping him.” Paulie Mae: “You mean an accomplice?” Riko: “Yeah. Think about it. He’s too smug to get his hands dirty himself.” Seth Norway (quiet, cold): “Or it’s one of us.” The room goes still. Every face turns toward Seth. His calm, analytical tone cuts through the air like a knife. Seth: “The mayor loves games. What’s a game without a hidden piece?” Paris Ross (nervous): “Y-you’re saying one of us… did this?” Seth: “Or was told to. A mole, maybe. Someone already playing by his rules.” Mariah (snapping): “Please. None of us are that psycho.” Neely: “You sure about that, darling? You did threaten to mug the candy boy five minutes ago.” Mariah: “That was retail therapy, not murder!” The argument ripples through the room, voices overlapping. Nicholas nervously unwraps a candy cane and fumbles it, the sound of plastic crackling. His leg bounces rapidly. Nicholas (muttering): “I don’t like this. I really don’t like this.” He inches closer to Arthur Present, gripping his arm without realizing it. Arthur (glancing down, voice soft): “Hey. Deep breaths. You’re fine.” Nicholas: “B-but what if someone really—” Arthur (quietly): “Then we’ll handle it. One step at a time.” Nicholas nods faintly, clinging tighter as his nerves spike. Across the room, Neely notices — and immediately smirks. Neely (sing-song): “Aww, look at them. Our knight in shining armor and his sugar-sized damsel.” Arthur Present (flat): “Neely.” Neely (grinning wider): “What? It’s sweet. Pun absolutely intended.” Nicholas (blushing): “I—no—this isn’t—!” Mariah: “Girl, let him have his comfort. He looks like he’s about to pass out.” The tension breaks into uneasy laughter — brief, fragile. But it doesn’t last. CRASH! A deafening sound shakes the entire building. Metal bending. Glass shattering. Something heavy slamming against concrete. Everyone freezes. Jessie (alarmed): “What was that?!” Paulie Louis: “Sounded close—like, outside close.” Paris Ross: “There’s no windows in here, we can’t even see what’s happening!” Riko: “Could be an animal…” Austin: “No. The animals have been too far off since the last sighting. That was structural.” Neely (dryly): “Oh great. Maybe the roof’s next. Perfect holiday ambiance.” The silence grows unbearable. Every creak, every faint wind sound outside makes them flinch. Paris (trying to stay calm): “Okay, new question — what was that noise? A building collapsing? Another explosion?” Riko: “Or someone… breaking in.” The group stares at him. The thought lands heavy. Mariah (nervously laughing): “You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking.” Riko (grim): “I wish I was.” A few tense moments pass. Nobody moves. The air feels colder now — or maybe it’s just fear. Then— A scream. Loud. Human. Agonized. It echoes through the neon-lit silence from somewhere outside the gift shop. Everyone jerks upright. Jessie (shouting): “WHO WAS THAT?!” Myrtle Chang: “It came from the plaza!” Neely: “Oh no, no, no, I’m not doing horror-movie logic today—” Before anyone can speak again, the speakers in the ceiling crackle to life with a familiar chime. BEEP… BEEP… BEEP… The group stares upward, frozen. Then comes the voice. Harold Yamaki (over intercom): 🎵 “A body has been discovered! Once three or more people gather near the body, an investigation will begin. Happy Holidays, my little snowflakes~” 🎵 Mariah: “Oh, hell no!” Nicholas (shaking): “A… body? Like, a dead—?” Paulie Mae: “Don’t say it.” Jessie: “So… it’s actually started.” The faint sound of the intercom fades, replaced by silence — a silence that feels heavier than before. Austin glances at the doors again — this time, the main front door of the shop stands slightly ajar. A faint draft of cold air seeps in. Austin (quietly): “The door’s open.” Everyone turns to look. Standing in the doorway are Aruha Suguyama, Mark Traverse, and Arthur Smith. They’re pale — almost ghostly white. Snow sticks to their hair and clothes. Paulie Louis: “You three—?!” Mark (voice trembling): “We… we managed to clear the barricade.” Aruha (quiet, shaky): “But… we shouldn’t have.” Arthur Smith (barely audible): “Because… someone’s dead.” The gift shop falls dead silent. Mariah’s mouth opens — but no words come out. Nicholas grips Arthur’s sleeve tighter. Even Neely, for once, has no quip ready. The faint hum of the Christmas lights returns — distorted, warbling through the static of the broken circuits. Outside, through the half-open door, a swirl of snow drifts in — sparkling faintly under the flickering glow of neon. Austin (low, serious): “Then the killing game… has begun.” The camera pans slowly toward the open door, following the trail of footprints and faint red stains leading out into the plaza. ~Episode 2 End~ Civilians: Heather Metal/ Ultimate VSCO Girl Kayegama Yoshe/Ultimate Freestyle rollerblader times_places Riko Hoyomisha/Ultimate Fencer paul Johnathan Coffee/Ultimate Barista Joshua Aruha Suguyama/ Ultimate violinist blue Arthur Smith/Ultimate male model Imprincearthur Jessie Kowalski/Ultimate Tarot Card reader Jessiekowalski Jake Belle/ Ultimate Scam Artist Will King/Ultimate Gamer Icebeast Mark Traverse/Ultimate Influencer evrtngbagel Mariah City/ Ultimate Livestreamer Myrtle Chang/Ultimate Swimmer stuartlittle16 Neely Pearl/ Ultimate Drag Queen Julian Merwin/ Ultimate male stripper Robert Finn/ Ultimate Technician Austin Sobriquet/Ultimate professor Sobriquet Chase Hallow/ Ultimate Mangaka Jackie Yamata/ Ultimate Pop Idol Emma Violet/ Ultimate Skateboarder Paulie Mae/ Ultimate Pottery Maker Seth Norway/ Ultimate Occultist Arthur Present/ Ultimate Knight Hue Trinity/ Ultimate Yo-yo Pro Paris Ross/ Ultimate Cat Lover Nicholas Sour/ Ultimate Candy Lover Pualie Louis/ Ultimate Seamstress Reader's Tag: Spinfur (as punishment)